-----of the constitutional promise of free education.

It is not.

It is not.

It is not. The Minister is misleading the House.

Is every educator in Ireland an idiot?

That is another disgrace.

Across the country, parents are alarmed at the attempt to slip gender ideology into the new primary school curriculum under the label of "well-being". They have spoken in their thousands in forums and yet the Government presses on. At a time when children face many challenges in growing up, it is reckless to add confusion and division into the classroom. Schools are meant to give stability, not be a laboratory for ideology. With regard to the reality of biology, it is a fact, to my mind, that a male is a male and a…

That is not right.

Over the summer, my colleagues and I met with people, including, as Deputy Collins mentioned, hairdressers, cafe owners, takeaway operators, vintners, restaurateurs, proprietors of hardware shops and other mom and pop businesses. These are homegrown businesses, some of which have been in operation for 80 or 90 years. These are generational family businesses. Many people involved in such businesses are telling us they may not last until Christmas or may not get over Christmas. They are hoping for a bumper December, …

I welcome all my colleagues back after the recess. I wish them success from now until the end of the term. I was listening to the debate in my office while doing my constituency work. I have listened to the Minister’s speech. I noticed when I was entering the Chamber that my name was taken and used by another colleague, Deputy Coppinger, along with some lines. I do live rent free when she is not playing the victim of someone else. I must remind the Deputy, when she talks about people in Independent Ireland being ra…

I am not mentioning the person but it was a candidate from her party who participated in that.

No Independent Ireland candidate ever spat in anyone’s face or made racist remarks to anyone. We only hear such stories from the far left. In a manner reminiscent of those who were warned of consequences of unbridling immigration in decades past, let us be frank: a nation that does not control its borders loses control of its future. We have witnessed in this situation the inflow of people not matching the outflow of facts. Today, the Minister spoke about the Irish people who travelled abroad and our proud history …

-----but it is not true.

If the Minister goes down to Mallow to see what is after happening in my constituency-----

I apologise.

What about the ones who retired?

You will take the credit for it though.

I will address the Minister of State's last point first. He and his Department are very good at misrepresenting a number of facts as well. Earlier his senior Minister stood in the Chamber and told Deputy Collins it was Ken O'Flynn's fault for securing 20 gardaí to Cork city. Getting 20 gardaí for Cork city is more than welcome, but the Minister failed to recall how many people have retired and left the force as well. Those figures are not being released by the Minister of State's Department on a regular basis. The …

Excuse me, Minister, I am speaking. You have been longer in the House, so you know the rules the House. I am speaking now.

The Minister of State mentioned the Garda drive and the Garda-----